How to respectfully turn down free drinks

[DwaynieAD]

"no thank you"

 

[onda'bass]

A singer gave great advice. Have an empty beer bottle, preferably your own. After the shot, pretend chase it and whoot no shots!!

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

So I do magic tricks in bars and clubs and I get this a lot. I politely tell them I've had enough and if they insist I simply give the drink to someone else.

 

[boombloom]

Honesty is the best policy. If the patron can't handle it then tell the bartender you don't want drinks from this guy.

 

[Kubicki Fan]

Pretend that you had alcohol problems in the past and you can't drink anymore for that reason.
He should respect that. If not, then you have an argument to keep him away from you as he doesn't respect that.

He should respect the fact that I don't want to drink, otherwise, f right the f off.

 

[Sternodox]

I bought my first bag (lid?) of leafy green material when I was in high school. I was so proud. I was hitching home and got picked up by a dude with very long hair. This was around 1970. I thought, I'm going to turn on this hippy. I said, "Wanna burn one?" He said, "No, man. I don't do anything I can't inject!"

So, tell him that.

 

[Liam Wald]

I quit drinking alcohol because it is basically poison for your body but I don't get into all that because I don't think it is cool to pontificate about such personal matters. I just say, "No thanks, I am driving tonight."

 

[JC BASS 91]

I would simply say "No, thank you."

If he persists: "I said, no, thank you."

If he continues or becomes belligerent: "Look, I tried to be nice, but now you're being rude. I do NOT accept drinks from strangers. You are a stranger to me, because I don't KNOW you, therefore I'm not going to accept this drink from you. I have trust issues, and therefore I don't trust YOU. So, take your drink and get lost."

That's as polite as it gets from me.

 

[Koshchei]

You don't gig much do you?

I gig plenty. I don't waitress though.

I mean... you kind of do and you kind of are? Why else are they hiring you? For their health?

They hire us to attract people. If they can't sell beer, that's on them.

 

[SFOB]

I almost never drink them, but I will always accept a free drink because it makes money for the bar. I'll just stash drinks behind my amp and take them up to the bar at the end of the night so the staff doesn't have to clean up after me.

 

[AK3000]

tell the bartending staff ahead of time.

 

[ctmullins]

While gazing intently at the veins in his neck, tell him in a menacing, guttural growl that you only drink human blood.

 

[Nephilymbass]

There is a person who is well known in the area with a really bad reputation that attends our bands live shows. He is always buying the band drinks and makes it a point to bring them up to the stage while we are playing and sets them in front of us. When its break time we are then hounded by this person who attempts to look like a friend. Any suggestions on how to politely avoid this individual?

Has anyone tried talking to the guy between sets? I’d just say I appreciate the support but I don’t drink anymore or I don’t drink before I’m done playing but I’d be happy to have a beer with you after we’re done playing.

 

[Yamarolorg]

By saying you don't drink anymore, invites a "Larry David" moment. You could make for another problem if the dude sees you drinking with others. The best advice I could give is the easiest -- a simple no thanks; you don't need any further explanation. If he's put out, that's on him. Sometimes, being too nice a person can lead to actually being not a nice person. If you start accepting gifts from the wrong people, worse issues can arise from simply not accepting in the first place.

 

[sean_on_bass]

no excuse needed, just a simple no thank you if offered.

 

[Mannyinnewyork]

How about "i am working. No booze."

 

[Lance Bunyon]

I tell them we're all seminarians studying to be monks.
We're actually an AA based band.
There's not a chance in hell I'm trying to explain that in a bar.
The Funky Monks explanation works. Religion instantly kills conversation

 

[smurfco]

I gig plenty. I don't waitress though.



They hire us to attract people. If they can't sell beer, that's on them.

Well I admire your dedication to keeping your artistic integrity intact.

 

[Medicine Man]

I've drank plenty of comp shots on stage, but I have a good tolerance and don't drink much during shows. The only time I got roofied was when my wife got me a drink directly from the bar, and someone tried to roofie her. Only the classiest places....

 

[crazyBassClown]

You don't work for the bar

If the bar is paying you to turn up and play music then yes you do work for the bar for that night.
If you are paying to hire the venue and then selling tickets to cover your costs I'd accept that you don't work for the bar but short of that you most certainly are working for the bar.